In this year’s ADCC East Coast trials that will take place November 6th and 7th, registration is not even done yet however today we are sharing with you the top 10 names to look out for in the 66kg and the 77kg divisions which are as of now two of the deepest divisions in the event.
The 77kg division has as of the writing of this article over 200 athletes registered to compete with the 66kg division not falling far behind with over 150 competitors
The full list of competitors will be released the day of the event but for now here are the top 10 names to look out for in this year’s ADCC East Coast Trials:
Kade Ruotolo – Atos
Register in the 77kg division Kade made it all the way to round three of the East Coast Trials in 2018 while he was just 16 years old. Just a few months later he reached the quarterfinals at the West Coast Trials in 2019 and now he is looking better than ever.
Cole Abate – Art of Jiu Jitsu
With only 16 years of age, Cole Abate has gathered some impressive wins, including a win over multiple-time trials winner Geo Martinez. Competition will certainly not be easy but Abate has shown that he is among the best Jiu Jitsu athletes in the world at 66kg.
William Tackett – Checkmat
William is a young man that has become a household name earning the 2020 FloGrappling Grappler of the Year award and has already proven to be one of the strongest competitors in the 77kg division. In 2018 and 2019 he came extremely close to wining the North American Trials and is a high favorite to win it all this year.
Gianni Grippo – Alliance
Gianni Grippo is already an ADCC veteran as well as a multiple IBJJF No-Gi champion. This man has been extremely dominant competing under any ruleset and is known for his incredible stamina and durability which will provide him with a great advantage competing in the 66kg division.
John Combs – Easton
Another ADCC veteran, John is recognized for his performance in the 2019 West Coast Trials for submitting five of six opponents and earning a spot to compete at ADCC Worlds. One of his most powerful weapons is the guillotine, we will be looking to see if he uses it this year when he competes in the 77kg division.
Estevan Martinez – ZR Team
Known as a giant slayer, Estevan Martinez is undersized for the 66kg division but that has never been a problem for him in the past. He is also known for being very aggressive and pushing the pace which has made him a fan favorite to watch regardless of the result.
Jon Satava – Alliance
Jon Satava won gold at the East Coast Trials in 2018 against some of the toughest competition, earning him a huge deal of respect in the sport. He is a strong wrestler and has a dominant top game with makes him very exciting to watch. Jon will be competing in the 77kg division.
Damien Anderson – B-Team
A former member of the Danaher Death Squad in Puerto Rico Damien Anderson has developed the skill set needed to do well in the ADCC ruleset and has shown that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the 66kg division.
PJ Barch – 10th Planet
PJ Barch was one of the favorites to win it all at the East Coast Trials in 2018 but an injury to the leg prevented him from facing Satava in the semifinals. In 2020 PJ came back from injury better than ever before with an impressive 75% submission rate. He is certainly one to watch in the 77kg division.
Keith Krikorian – 10th Planet
A finalist in the 2019 West Coast Trials Keith Krikorian is an ADCC Worlds veteran that has the skills to run the 66kg division for years to come.
Stay tuned for more news from the ADCC East Coast Trials this November 6th and 7th.
